Recipes

Sesame Seed Balls

Ingredients:

6 cups oil for deep-frying
1/2 cup white sesame seeds
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 - 1 1/3 cups boiling water
3 cups (about 400 grams) glutinous rice flour

Options for filling
Peanut and Coconut Filling:
2 tablespoons grated coconut
1/3 cup chopped roasted peanuts
2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons white sugar

White Sesame Seed Paste:
200g white sesame seeds
5-6 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Directions:

1. Pre-heat wok or saucepan with oil to 350 °F. Make sure that there is at least 3 inches of oil in the wok.
2. Spread the sesame seeds over a piece of wax or parchment paper. Place a small bowl of water beside the sesame seeds.
3. Dissolve the brown sugar in 1 cup of the boiling water.
4. Place the rice flour in a large bowl. Make a "well" in the middle of the bowl and add the dissolved sugar and water mixture. Stir until you have a sticky, golden brown coloured dough, adding as much of the remaining 1/3 cup of boiling water if needed.
5. Pinch off a piece of dough roughly the size of a golf ball and roll into a bowl. Place optional filling in the dough and seal tightly.
6. Dip the finished ball into a small bowl of water as a form of glue. Roll the ball over the sesame seeds. Repeat the process with the remainder of the balls.
7. Deep-fry the sesame seed balls, a few at a time, in the hot oil.
8. Once the sesame seeds turn light brown (about 2 minutes), use the back of a spatula or a large ladle to gently press the balls against the side of the wok or saucepan. Continue applying pressure as the balls turn golden brown and expand to approximately 3 times their normal size.
9. Drain the deep-fried sesame seed balls on paper towels. Serve warm.

Peanut and Coconut Filling:
Finely dice peanuts and mix together with shredded coconut and white sugar

1. Wash sesame seeds thoroughly in a large bowl in several changes of water
2. Drain sesame seeds until it completely dry
3. Heat pan over low to medium, place sesame seeds and stir consistently. Stir approximately 10 minutes until sesame seeds turn golden brown. Remove from heat, and let them cool.
4. Place roasted sesame seeds in a food processor with two table spoons of olive oil.